How much is about the recording

i.e. WHICH, Diana Krall version of "Garden in the Rain"

Love Scenes Impulse CD IMPD-233

What does the noise suppression in garden in the rain sound like?

The tape hiss like noise is fully suppressed, then as she takes her breath, you hear the background level come up and she starts singing. Someone/some device is definitely gain riding to reduce the background noise on the quiet segments in between her singing. I find the whole album just a tad over-produced.

You'll need some really good tweeters, a system with good extension, and you'll need to turn it up a bit. It hits me over the head but if your system is fairly average you may not hear it. It sounds great on my lessor systems. 

Most people do not realize how bad a recording can be until they hear it on a great system. A good system will make good recordings excellent and bad recordings unlistenable. I love listening to great recordings on a great system as I find myself enjoying artists and music I never considered previously. IMO the recording and the system go hand in hand.

How much is about the recording

It’s everything.

Only a deluded fool believes their system can make a bad recording sound good.

Only a deluded fool believes their system can make a bad recording sound good.

Given enough tools, I'm pretty sure I could make a bad recording at least sound acceptable. But I still agree with what you are saying.

The late Rudy Van Gelder once said "I love re-mastering early recordings. Those engineers wore ties to work."